“China’s new weapon?” Concerns over Bangladesh-India!

China has begun construction of the largest hydroelectric dam in history. This huge dam is being built on the Yarlung Tsangpo River in a remote region of Tibet. Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang calls it the “project of the century.” However, concerns are growing about this project—especially for downstream countries like India and Bangladesh, whose livelihoods depend heavily on the water of this river.

This river is known as the ‘Brahmaputra’ in India and the ‘Yamuna’ in Bangladesh. If a major obstacle is created in the course of this river, it could cause a major disaster not only for the environment but also for the lives of millions of people.

According to Chinese state media, this project will be implemented in five phases. The goal is to generate 300 million megawatt-hours of electricity per year, which could be the highest in the world. But the news of the start of construction has caused as much joy in China as concern in neighboring countries.

Experts say that by building the dam, China can block the river's water or change its direction. India's foreign ministry has expressed concern about the project, saying that China should not interfere with the natural flow of the river. Bangladesh is also concerned because if the water in this river decreases, agriculture, the environment and people's livelihoods in the northern and central parts of the country could be seriously affected.

Environmentalists also see the project as a huge risk. The area where the dam is being built is highly earthquake-prone and prone to landslides. Local wildlife, plants, and even thousands of years old Buddhist monasteries and villages could be lost due to the project.

Local residents in Tibet already fear eviction. There have been protests against other Chinese hydroelectric projects in the past. For example, the government arrested hundreds of people for protesting against the Kamtak Dam on the Yangtze River.

Another aspect of the dam project is China's political influence. Many analysts say that it could serve not only to generate electricity, but also as a tool to use water as a strategic "weapon". This could be a new kind of challenge for South Asia.

The Chinese government, however, says that it will work to protect the interests of its neighbors and that appropriate measures will be taken to protect the environment. Premier Li Keqiang has said, “Development should be done not by destroying nature, but by protecting the environment.”

However, the reality is that if this project is successful, China will be able to unilaterally control the future of the Brahmaputra-Yamuna. So the biggest question now is—will this development be for the benefit of all, or will it create a new crisis?